By Raymond Baguma

 

KAMPALA - The Police have denied conducting any criminal investigations against former Prime Minister John Patrick Amama Mbabazi.

 

The police spokesperson Fred Enanga in a statement said that on Wednesday they received correspondence from Mbabazi’s lawyers inquiring about an investigation that was being conducted against the former premier.

 

The lawyers had been drawn by media reports of police conducting criminal investigations against Mbabazi with a view of charging him on politically-motivated trumped-up criminal charges of fraud and money laundering.

 

Mbabazi’s lawyers asked the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Gen. Kale Kayihura to come clean on reports that their client was being investigated over fraud and money laundering without involving him.

 

The lawyers said the file on Mbabazi was already in the DPP’s office and the charges in question originated from a series of business transactions that led to the closure of National Bank of Commerce.

 

But Enanga said: “The Police would like to categorically state that even before the receipt of such letter, we did not have any information about an investigation against their client. And we do request that they share such information with us for further follow up.”

 

He added: “For the avoidance of any doubt, we would like to clearly state that the police is not conducting any investigation against the former Prime Minister.”

 

The police spokesman however said that police is mandated to investigate allegations of crime and would do so if there arose any criminal allegations against the former Prime Minister.

 

“As Police, we remain committed to executing our mandate in accordance with the law.

 

“In the event that any criminal allegations are made against their client, we shall let his lawyers know to enable them prepare defense and the public at large,” he said.